e and some troops. Finally the {246} Directoire got wind of
the proceedings, and by prompt measures broke up the conspiracy and
captured its leaders. Babeuf, arrested on the 10th of May, was
sentenced to death a year later by a special court, and executed.

On the 19th of May the Directoire endorsed Bonaparte's action by
signing a favourable peace with Sardinia; then taking advantage of his
further successes at Lonato and Castiglione, it half bullied, half
bribed the feeble Government of Spain into a treaty of alliance
offensive and defensive, the treaty of San Ildefonso, signed on the
19th of August. This placed a redoubtable naval force in line against
England, with the immediate result that she withdrew her fleet from the
Mediterranean where it had been considerably impeding the operations of
the French generals along the Italian seaboard. Before the close of
the year the Directoire pushed a step further, and Hoche made an
attempt, frustrated by bad weather, to disembark in Ireland, which was
ready to revolt against England. In February 1797, however, Admiral
Jervis crushed the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, restoring by
this stroke England's commanding position at sea.

In Germany matters had not gone well with {247} the Republic. The
young Archduke Charles, massing cleverly against Jourdan, drove him
back to the Rhine before Moreau could effect his junction. Moreau had
nothing left but retreat. This success enabled the Austrian Government
to reinforce its troops in the Tyrol, whence its generals made repeated
efforts to drive Bonaparte from the siege of Mantua. In September he
won a considerable victory over the Austrians at Bassano; in November
at Arcola; in January at Rivoli. Finally in February Mantua
surrendered; Bonaparte in less than twelve months had disposed of five
Austrian armies and captured the stronghold of the Hapsburgs in Italy.

Preparations were now made for a new move. The Directoire withdrew
Bernadotte with a strong division from Germany to strengthen Bonaparte,
and raised his army to 70,000 men. He advanced through Friuli and the
Julian Alps, outflanking the Archduke Charles, who attempted to bar his
way, with detached corps under Joubert and Massena. Bonaparte was
irresistible. He forced his way to within a short distance of Vienna,
and finally at Leoben, on the 18th of April, Austria accepted peace
preliminaries. She agreed to {248} cede the Netherlands and Lombardy,
in r